He snarled. “You know, there are grown males in this universe that still tremble at hearing my name.”
She cocked her head, confused. Completely unafraid of him. It was insulting, really.
“What are you talking about?” She asked, crossing her arms likeshewas annoyed with him.
He sighed, frustrated. “Nothing. What do you want now?”
“I need your biosignature.” She held up two little vials.
“You already got it.”
“That was for your credz account. This is for your new identity.”
“Huh?”
She sighed, rolling her eyes. Blatant disrespect. “You would know this if you read the messages I’ve been sending you.”
“They’re pointless.”
“No. They’re important. This is vital.”
“I already have a new identity.”
“No. What you have is a fake identity profile that, while really good, will not stand up to a full investigation. If someone looks closely, they’ll find your old identity.”
He muttered under his breath, annoyed, but didn’t dispute her.
Vytln wasn’t his birth name. It was one he chose when he started following Tanin. They all chose new names. All but Taninhimself, who didn't need one, and Alred, who couldn’t have one as he was a technological being. For the others, their real names were associated with all the crimes they committed in the past. To live this peaceful life, they’d had to leave those names behind and craft new, spotless identities.
Those fake identities had been their first big purchase. Unlike the Humility, they’d spared no expense on those since they were vital to maintaining their freedom. Rik-Vane felt like one, but it wasn’t actually a prison. The crimes they committed there were still logged and held against them. And, if caught, theywouldbe sent to prison. And there was no escaping that fate.
So, in light of that, Vytln’s old name, J’tll, had been left behind. He didn't even consider it to be his name anymore. Just part of his past. Like the Brute he had been after that. A name that he answered to once but no longer.
Giving up on figuring out the changed wiring – the pest was long gone now – Vytln grabbed the panel cover and fit it back in place as Grace continued her nattering.
“I need you to fill these. I worked really hard with Captain Ikvar to get this done, and you are the last person. This one is for ending your old identity, and this one is for starting your-Hey! Come back here! I need you to do this!”
She chased him down as he walked away, trying to ignore her. For such a little thing, she was annoyingly persistent. She just kept going. Insisting on the importance of this thing. Even when he stopped, looking up at the ceiling, wondering if he could find religion for a moment to pray for some kind of patience, she kept going.
Until, without any warning, he turned and snarled. Bearing his teeth. Growling loudly. Practically roaring at her in the empty hall.
She stopped as well, giving him an unfazed look. She let out a little sigh of frustration of her own.
“Vytln, please, I promise this is the only time I’ll ask you to kill yourself.”
He sighed, shoulders dropping. There was once a time when just the sight of him was enough to send people running, and now he couldn’t even make this tiny, delicate thing flinch.
“Just two quick pokes, I promise, and I’ll leave you alone.” She held up the vials again.
“I highly doubt that,” he grumbled, holding up his hand for her. Giving up. She beamed, grabbing his finger so she could press the tiny vials to his skin.
“Thanks. This is going to be really good, you’ll see. It took me forever to convince Captain Ikvar that this was necessary, but I finally got him. This biosignature is officially ending the life of J’tll y Ntlm. We can finally close this chapter. And with him being registered as dead, and some magic worked on Ikvar’s side, we never have to worry about your old name coming up in connection to your new one ever again.”
He watched as she pressed the vial against his finger and pushed the button. He didn't even feel it taking his blood sample. The vial began to glow purple as it took his biosignature.
Captain Ikvar was a peacekeeper – the police. Someone he would never work with under ordinary circumstances. And someone he’d never actually met. However, the male had a deal with Tanin that allowed them to keep their freedom so long asthey were well behaved. Which, to them, just meant hiding any crimes they might commit from the peacekeeper. Something they would have done anyway. His interference in their life had been inevitable after Garnet and Goldie joined the crew. A necessary annoyance – like Grace’s nagging.
Tanin was the one who dealt with the peacekeeper captain. And now Grace as well apparently. Vytln was glad it wasn’t him. His life had become real simple since joining Tanin’s crew and, honestly, he wasn’t at all unhappy about it.
